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A QUANTITATIVE BALANCE BETWEEN SUBSTRATES AND METABOLIC PRODUCTS OF THE MAMMARY GLAND
Author(s) -
BARRY J. M.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
biological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.993
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1469-185X
pISSN - 1464-7931
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-185x.1964.tb00954.x
Subject(s) - mammary gland , venous blood , chemistry , blood flow , metabolism , medicine , biology , endocrinology , physiology , biochemistry , cancer , breast cancer
Summary 1. An attempt has been made to assess from published experiments, and largely for the goat, the principal compounds that are absorbed from the blood by the lactating mammary gland, the quantities of each that are absorbed during the formation of 100 ml. of milk, and the proportion of each of the major components of milk, and of the carbon dioxide expired by the gland, which is derived from each of the components of blood. 2. An assessment has first been made of which compounds of blood could, and which could not, be quantitatively significant metabolites of the gland. This has been done by calculating the maximum amount of each compound which would be available to the gland during the formation of 100 ml. of milk, from its concentration in blood together with the rate of blood flow through the gland. 3. For components of blood which could be quantitatively significant metabolites of the gland, it should be possible to discover whether or not they are absorbed in significant amounts by making arterio‐venous measurements. Those measurements which have been made are considered, and rough calculations have been made of the quantity of each compound which is absorbed from the blood of the goat during the formation of 100 ml. of milk. 4. From this information, and from the results of experiments with isotopic tracers, an attempt has then been made to assess the proportion of each of the major components of milk, and of the carbon dioxide expired by the lactating gland, which is derived from each of the components of blood. 5. It is realized that the calculations made in this article are approximate. In conclusion, possible improvements in technique are briefly considered which would enable a balance of this kind to be made accurately.